Former school bus driver sentenced to prison for sex on bus with boy

Syracuse, NY - A former Onondaga Central School bus driver was sentenced today to 14 years in state prison for engaging in sexual activity with a 12-year-old boy on his bus after school.

Shaun Rogers, 24, of Central Square, had nothing to say before state Supreme Court Justice John Brunetti imposed sentence.

But the victim, in a letter read to the court by Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Cali, said he was feeling ashamed and embarrassed as a result of Rogers' "unspeakable" conduct.

Rogers pleaded guilty last month to one felony count of first-degree criminal sex act, admitting he engaged in an act of oral sex with the victim on his school bus some day in January. Authorities said Rogers was accused of engaging in similar acts of sexual activity with the boy on a number of occasions while the boy was alone on the bus with Rogers following after-school acitivities.

The victim noted in his letter to the court that he wonders every day if people in the community know who he is. He also wrote that he hoped the incidents would be forgotten in the community before school starts again in the fall.

"But I will remember," he noted, adding he hoped Rogers would feel the guilt of what he had done for the rest of his life.

In a stunning move, the victim's father tearfully revealed in court that he had been molested as a young boy.

The father said he ended up being a "troubled kid" who grew up to be a "sad and lonely man" as a result. That abuse "crippled" his life, he tearfully told the court.

"I guess my son will experience a world I desperately wanted him to avoid," the man said. "I truly love my son. He is my world."

He also told Brunetti he was proud that his son had "the guts" to tell someone about the sexual abuse by Rogers. The father noted he had never before told anyone about being molested himself as a child before he revealed that in court this morning.

Defense lawyer Thomas Ryan said Rogers is sorry about what happened. There had never been any similar conduct in his past and no other victims, the lawyer said.

Ryan said Rogers had overcome learning and auditory disabilities to realize his childhood dream of becoming a school bus driver only to sacrifice it because of his conduct.

In addition to the 14-year prison term, Rogers will face eight years of post-release parole supervision and be required to register as a convicted sexual offender.